Scott Barr will defend his title at the 34th edition of the FTLife Hong Kong PGA Championship.

The first two rounds of the 54-hole event – from January 4-6, 2017 – will be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

The 46-year-old Australian, an Asian Tour regular who memorably captured his first HK PGA Championship title with a stirring performance to deny compatriot Unho Park an unprecedented fifth straight victory, said he was excited to be returning to Hong Kong to face the challenge that lies ahead.

“To win the event after finishing runner-up three times in a row to Unho [Park] was a hugely satisfying moment for me,” said Singapore-based Barr, who has enjoyed a solid season on the Asian Tour. “We had a great battle down the stretch and it was a huge relief that I was able to cling on at the end. It’s a fabulous tournament, one that I had targeted for a long time, so to pull off the victory was very special. I can’t wait to get back and defend my title.”

Barr will come up against strong opposition in the HK$500,000 (about US$70,000) event, with a full field of HK PGA pros eager to wrest the trophy away from his hands.

The 54-hole championship will be played in its traditional three-course format, with the New Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club hosting the first round before the players move to the Eden Course on day two.

Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club will host the final round for the second time in the last three years.

No local player has triumphed at the championship since Dominique Boulet in 2004, but after recently turning pro, former Hong Kong amateur star Shinichi Mizuno has high hopes of ending a 12-year wait for a homegrown winner.

The 23-year-old represented Hong Kong internationally at numerous levels before making the switch to the paid ranks.